Charles Manson, Jim Jones, and David Koresh typically represent the idea of cults in America. Among the indie scene however, the word “cult” is gradually making an association with pop vocals and keyboard melodies entrenched in a darker noise rock thanks to the New York group, CULTS. Known for their song, “Go Outside,” the group… Continue reading CULTS: The Noir Side of Indie Pop
Heading to The Paradise, I’d never seen RJD2 live. No, like many of my fellows, my experience with the artist had been restricted to lone headphone listens of his dusty-funk compilations. And, to be honest, I thought that was good enough. Foolish me.Fresh Produce opened the night up with a solid introductory set, blending club… Continue reading RJD2 | Paradise Rock Club – Boston, MA | April 8, 2012
Seeking refuge from a brisk and windy San Francisco evening, hirsute hippies and mustachioed hipsters file into the Connecticut Yankee for a special performance by jam band collective Secret Chimp. Ironically enough, the Connecticut Yankee, which has undergone a plethora of name changes and facelifts since it first opened in 1907 as “Hilda’s Saloon,” is… Continue reading Secret Chimp Swings into the Spotlight at SF's Connecticut Yankee
Before attending a Shpongle show, one has to prepare themselves for a soul searching journey. This is not the typical concert, nor is it a typical DJ rave type event. It is a hybrid of both, with a unique ability to assist the viewer to transcend to many different places. After all, isn’t that why… Continue reading Shpongle: The Masquerade
It’s good to know there are still folks out there fighting the good fight.Arriving at O’brien’s Pub in Allston a little before nine, I felt as if I’d stepped straight back into 1967 – there was a motley collection of denim, long hair and leather from corner to corner – hazy shades of southern psychedelia.… Continue reading The Night Beats | O'brien's Pub | Allston, MA | 4/5/12 | Review
I don’t know quite what to think of T.J. Courtney. Even with a first listen to the rock artist’s new EP, Into The Sky, one would be hard pressed not to find similarities in his delivery to modern-day acts such as Nickelback, Daughtry, and the like – turn on any mainstream rock radio station, that’s… Continue reading TJ Courtney | Into The Sky | CD Review
The band Dead Sara released their self-titled album on April 10th. Based in Los Angeles, the female duo-fronted band weaves together a stiff, punk attitude with a grungy rock sound. Their sound sometimes reminds me of a heavier Hole, what with Emily Armstrong’s edgy vocals mixing with the solid rhythm lines provided by guitarist Siouxsie… Continue reading Dead Sara's Self-Titled Debut, 'Dead Sara' | Review
What can’t Bela Fleck do? Or maybe the question is what can’t Bela Fleck do with a banjo? Aside from his history with the Flecktones, bridging and bending the idea of genre and fusion music he produced his first film, “Throw Down Your Heart”, a journey into the true origins of the banjo in Africa.… Continue reading Bela Fleck & the Flecktones | Boulder Theater | 4/7/2012
I arrived before the doors opened. Just from the line forming outside the theater, I could tell that Band of Skulls had an enthusiastic following. The excitement was palpable. After the recent release of their new album, Sweet Sour, the band geared up for an international tour. The group, hailing from England, obviously had quite… Continue reading Band of Skulls | Bluebird Theater | Denver, CO | 4/6/12 | Review
When I was very young, my house was filled with Dvořák, Beethoven, Verdi, Mahler, and Bach. My father would sometimes remark, in an almost wistful voice, that what I was listening to paled in comparison with its live counterpart. “There’s nothing like experiencing the symphony in person,” he would say. I was skeptical because I… Continue reading Bela Fleck & the Flecktones | Boulder Theater | 4/7/12 | Review
